TRA signs AED 37 million scholarship fund for students

UAE: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), through its financial arm, ICT Fund, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs’ Scholarships Office on Thursday (October 20, 2016), the last day of GITEX 2016, to finance 15 semesters outside the country for the Scholarships Office total AED 37.5 million. The agreement aims to provide more opportunities for students to take up several semesters in the best universities in the world in disciplines that serve the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and develop highly qualified professionals for the country. It aims to contribute to the development of the ICT sector and make the economy more competitive, led by the creativity and innovativeness of UAE citizens. His Excellency (H.E.) Ahmed Mohamed Al Humairi, Secretary-General, Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Deputy CEO, Scholarship Office, praised its collaboration with TRA, sharing that the agreement will ensure Emiratis with the opportunity to be trained and qualified while also helping in the move to meet the needs of the ICT sector, which has witnessed accelerated development and has created a demand for ICT professionals in the country. H.E. cited TRA’s role in supporting and encouraging Emirati students to continue their education. H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the TRA, stated that the TRA’s strategy to develop the specialties of the country’s human resources and support the higher education sector is part of a continuing program.The TRA believes that investment in the youth ensures the country’s long-term development and leadership.The TRA will invest AED 1.2 billion to provide scholarships for1,000 Emirati students until the end of 2018. H.E. Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, Deputy Director General, TRA and member of theICTFund’s Board of Trustees, said: “The TRA continues to support students to improve the ability of youths to innovate through ‘Be'tha’ and other programs that the TRA has launched through our corporate social responsibility initiatives which seek to enhance social development and enable people to lead the future and continue the development of the UAE." H.E. Mohammed Khalifa Al Hameli, Director, Scholarship Offices, praised the agreement, explaining its significant role that will highly benefit the students and enhance their opportunities and education options, especially in term of telecommunication technology. It reflects the important collaboration between the national organizations and shapes the social responsibility of serving the future and developing national human resources. The agreement provides an opportunity for deserving Emirati students to complete their studies and specializations in top-performing universities worldwide and return to the UAE to serve the needs of various sectors and take on leadership roles in major transformations within the sector. The Ministry of Presidential Affairs’ Scholarships Office is one of entities responsible for providing scholarships to students studying abroad. It has coordinated with the TRA to tap its ICT Fund ‘Be'tha’ program to financially support 15 Emirati students seeking to study abroad. The agreement is one of several initiatives and partnerships which the TRA has signed with other universities and organizations in the higher education sector during its participation at GITEX which totaled AED 100.6 million.The agreements were designed to develop the education sector’s infrastructure in universities and provide scholarships for students looking to further their studies in various specialties and keep pace with the development of the business sector and job market needs in the country.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132810/tra-signs-aed-37-million-scholarship-fund-for-students/

TRA signs AED 37 million scholarship fund for students

UAE: The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), through its financial arm, ICT Fund, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs’ Scholarships Office on Thursday (October 20, 2016), the last day of GITEX 2016, to finance 15 semesters outside the country for the Scholarships Office total AED 37.5 million. The agreement aims to provide more opportunities for students to take up several semesters in the best universities in the world in disciplines that serve the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and develop highly qualified professionals for the country. It aims to contribute to the development of the ICT sector and make the economy more competitive, led by the creativity and innovativeness of UAE citizens. His Excellency (H.E.) Ahmed Mohamed Al Humairi, Secretary-General, Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Deputy CEO, Scholarship Office, praised its collaboration with TRA, sharing that the agreement will ensure Emiratis with the opportunity to be trained and qualified while also helping in the move to meet the needs of the ICT sector, which has witnessed accelerated development and has created a demand for ICT professionals in the country. H.E. cited TRA’s role in supporting and encouraging Emirati students to continue their education. H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the TRA, stated that the TRA’s strategy to develop the specialties of the country’s human resources and support the higher education sector is part of a continuing program.The TRA believes that investment in the youth ensures the country’s long-term development and leadership.The TRA will invest AED 1.2 billion to provide scholarships for1,000 Emirati students until the end of 2018. H.E. Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, Deputy Director General, TRA and member of theICTFund’s Board of Trustees, said: “The TRA continues to support students to improve the ability of youths to innovate through ‘Be'tha’ and other programs that the TRA has launched through our corporate social responsibility initiatives which seek to enhance social development and enable people to lead the future and continue the development of the UAE." H.E. Mohammed Khalifa Al Hameli, Director, Scholarship Offices, praised the agreement, explaining its significant role that will highly benefit the students and enhance their opportunities and education options, especially in term of telecommunication technology. It reflects the important collaboration between the national organizations and shapes the social responsibility of serving the future and developing national human resources. The agreement provides an opportunity for deserving Emirati students to complete their studies and specializations in top-performing universities worldwide and return to the UAE to serve the needs of various sectors and take on leadership roles in major transformations within the sector. The Ministry of Presidential Affairs’ Scholarships Office is one of entities responsible for providing scholarships to students studying abroad. It has coordinated with the TRA to tap its ICT Fund ‘Be'tha’ program to financially support 15 Emirati students seeking to study abroad. The agreement is one of several initiatives and partnerships which the TRA has signed with other universities and organizations in the higher education sector during its participation at GITEX which totaled AED 100.6 million.The agreements were designed to develop the education sector’s infrastructure in universities and provide scholarships for students looking to further their studies in various specialties and keep pace with the development of the business sector and job market needs in the country.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132810/tra-signs-aed-37-million-scholarship-fund-for-students/

Dubai Cares to fund education in conflict zones

Dubai, UAE: Dubai Cares on Wednesday committed to support educating children caught in conflict and emergencies with “programmes that work” to ensure preventing a lost generation. Dubai Cares, part of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, on Wednesday committed $20 million (Dh73.4 million) for Education in Emergencies. The funding will initially cover programmes in Lebanon, Niger, and Sierra Leone, in addition to future programmes to be announced in the coming year. These new programmes are part of the ‘Education in Emergencies’ Evidence for Action (3EA), which brings together Dubai Cares, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Global TIES for Children/New York University (NYU) in a pioneering three-year initiative that seeks to introduce targeted and evidence-based interventions. “The most neglected, the most marginalised, the most individuals who are not getting their privilege into any crisis in the world are children. They are not getting their education. And we don’t need any lost generation happening in this world. The opportunity costs of these years lost due to conflict and natural disasters is exceedingly high and we need to do everything we can to prevent it,” Tareq Al Gurg, Dubai Cares CEO, said. “That’s why we are going to champion this and I have a very strong belief that all the adults in the future will be literate, only if all children of today get the education that they deserve.” Currently, one in 113 people is either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum. More than half of the world’s refugees are children. Despite this, statistics show that only one per cent of overall humanitarian aid is spent on education. Through the committed fund, the 3EA programme in Lebanon will receive Dh8.8 million to improve the reading, maths and social-emotional outcomes for 4,600 highly vulnerable Syrian refugee children aged 6-16, among others. Similarly, the 3EA programme in Nigerien will get Dh7.7 million to improve the reading, maths, and social-emotional outcomes for 4,000 highly vulnerable Niger refugee children aged 6-14 who have been displaced by the insecurity caused by Boko Haram. Lastly, the programme in Sierra Leone will receive Dh7.3 million that will be used to improve the education quality and learning outcomes of at least 4,000 children (6-16 years old). Beyond numbers Jennifer Sklar, deputy director, Education at International Rescue Committee, said the programme goes beyond numbers and actually focuses on quality of education and learning that the children get. “We’re trying to make a case for donors to encourage them to go ahead and invest in, maybe, small numbers, but take the time to invest in figuring out what actually works using rigorous studies. And then we can scale it with what works, not just to scale it because there’s pressure to do so,” Sklar told Gulf News. “For Dubai Cares to actually invest in learning is really remarkable. But they’re not just reaching children, which many people do, but they reach children with what works.” Fund-raising campaign launched Dubai Cares on Wednesday also launched its month-long fund-raising campaign called ‘#LastILearned’. The campaign takes away the numbers and tells the real stories of the children affected by emergencies such as the story of 15-year-old Nadia who has not been receiving an education since the beginning of the Syrian conflict and who shares the last thing she learnt in school. This campaign enables the public to share their bit to help fund the education of these children. Key campaign donors Al Ansari Exchange, Lulu Group International and Noor Al Ghafari on behalf of Waleed Al Ghafari, have contributed Dh3.5 million. The campaign aims to reach at least Dh8 million. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132761/dubai-cares-to-fund-education-in-conflict-zones/

Emirati scientist wins Women in Science award

Dubai, UAE: Emirati scientist Hanifa Al Beloushi is this year’s UAE recipient of the L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Middle East Fellowship award, for her research in designing a novel system for enzymatic biodiesel production. Al Beloushi, who is assistant professor at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at Masdar Institute, was among three other women from the Middle East to receive the fellowship at an awards ceremony at Zayed University in Dubai on Tuesday night. All the four winners received an endowment of 20,000 euros each (around Dh80,829) in support of their work. At the event, Minister of State for Tolerance Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who is also president of Zayed University and the patron of the event, congratulated the winners. Shaikha Lubna said: “I commend the work being done by the L’Oréal Foundation and Unesco through the For Women In Science Programme, which raises the level of scientific research in the region and encourages Arab women scientists to pursue their dreams, work for the progress of humanity and make a difference in the world. It is my honour to offer my patronage to a programme that wholeheartedly motivates female scientists from the GCC and recognises their excellent contribution to fields where women are underrepresented.” Al Beloushi said she was honoured to win the recognition, adding she would be involving Masdar students in her work. Speaking about her research, she told Gulf News the project involves developing environment-friendly bio catalysts, rather than chemicals ones, in biodiesel production. She is also developing new compounds to keep the bio enzymes active in the process, to increase the yield, as well as integrating the extraction of oil and its conversion into biodiesel as one continuous process rather than separate steps. Biodiesel is an alternative to regular diesel that is produced from vegetable oil (among other substances). It can and is used as fuel in regular vehicle engines. Much of the raw material for biodiesel in the UAE and elsewhere comes from waste oil in restaurants. Al Beloushi is also working on alternative sources such as microalgae. She said the research has tremendous potential to save resources and the environment, increase production, and save costs. Al Beloushi said despite the UAE’s standing as an oil-rich country, “we have to look for alternatives, plan now for the future and see what’s suitable for the UAE”. She added that she hopes her work will yield results that will convince companies to adopt her process. “I cannot convince them unless I have some statistics and values and unless it is cost-effective,” Al Beloushi said. The other three winners, who are all assistant professors at universities are Dr Maha Al Asmakh from Qatar University; Shimaa Hassan Eisa from the College of Science and General Studies in Riyadh; and Lila Habib from Kuwait University. Nearly 2,250 women in over 110 countries have been recipients of the Fellowship over the past 18 years. With Unesco, the Foundation has honoured almost 100 award laureates for their research achievements — two of whom have gone on to win a Nobel Prize. Thierry Houssin, managing director, L’Oréal Middle East, said the fellowship “continues to build on our firm commitment to women everywhere. As a group, we believe in gender diversity in order to make science of greater relevance to all. We work actively to make women be heard. As women make up one half of humanity, their voices must find expression if scientific research is to continue to solve our most pressing problems”. The 2016 L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Middle East Fellows: Hanifa Taher Al Beloushi, (UAE), assistant professor at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at Masdar Institute: For her research in designing a new novel system for enzymatic biodiesel production. Dr Maha Al Asmakh, (Qatar), assistant professor, Biomedical Science at the Health Sciences College in Qatar University: For her research on microbiota and its effects on brain development and reproductive health. Shimaa Hassan Eisa, (Saudi Arabia), assistant professor of research at the Chemistry Department, College of Science and General Studies, Riyadh: For her research in the development of novel DNA Aptamer-based Biosensing technology for the detection of glycated haemoglobin in human whole blood. Lila Habib, (Kuwait) assistant professor at the Biomedical Engineering Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University: For her research in developing muscular dystrophy patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-based assays (evaluation) for disease modelling. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132759/emirati-scientist-wins-women-in-science-award/

Dubai Cares to fund education in conflict zones

Dubai, UAE: Dubai Cares on Wednesday committed to support educating children caught in conflict and emergencies with “programmes that work” to ensure preventing a lost generation. Dubai Cares, part of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, on Wednesday committed $20 million (Dh73.4 million) for Education in Emergencies. The funding will initially cover programmes in Lebanon, Niger, and Sierra Leone, in addition to future programmes to be announced in the coming year. These new programmes are part of the ‘Education in Emergencies’ Evidence for Action (3EA), which brings together Dubai Cares, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Global TIES for Children/New York University (NYU) in a pioneering three-year initiative that seeks to introduce targeted and evidence-based interventions. “The most neglected, the most marginalised, the most individuals who are not getting their privilege into any crisis in the world are children. They are not getting their education. And we don’t need any lost generation happening in this world. The opportunity costs of these years lost due to conflict and natural disasters is exceedingly high and we need to do everything we can to prevent it,” Tareq Al Gurg, Dubai Cares CEO, said. “That’s why we are going to champion this and I have a very strong belief that all the adults in the future will be literate, only if all children of today get the education that they deserve.” Currently, one in 113 people is either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum. More than half of the world’s refugees are children. Despite this, statistics show that only one per cent of overall humanitarian aid is spent on education. Through the committed fund, the 3EA programme in Lebanon will receive Dh8.8 million to improve the reading, maths and social-emotional outcomes for 4,600 highly vulnerable Syrian refugee children aged 6-16, among others. Similarly, the 3EA programme in Nigerien will get Dh7.7 million to improve the reading, maths, and social-emotional outcomes for 4,000 highly vulnerable Niger refugee children aged 6-14 who have been displaced by the insecurity caused by Boko Haram. Lastly, the programme in Sierra Leone will receive Dh7.3 million that will be used to improve the education quality and learning outcomes of at least 4,000 children (6-16 years old). Beyond numbers Jennifer Sklar, deputy director, Education at International Rescue Committee, said the programme goes beyond numbers and actually focuses on quality of education and learning that the children get. “We’re trying to make a case for donors to encourage them to go ahead and invest in, maybe, small numbers, but take the time to invest in figuring out what actually works using rigorous studies. And then we can scale it with what works, not just to scale it because there’s pressure to do so,” Sklar told Gulf News. “For Dubai Cares to actually invest in learning is really remarkable. But they’re not just reaching children, which many people do, but they reach children with what works.” Fund-raising campaign launched Dubai Cares on Wednesday also launched its month-long fund-raising campaign called ‘#LastILearned’. The campaign takes away the numbers and tells the real stories of the children affected by emergencies such as the story of 15-year-old Nadia who has not been receiving an education since the beginning of the Syrian conflict and who shares the last thing she learnt in school. This campaign enables the public to share their bit to help fund the education of these children. Key campaign donors Al Ansari Exchange, Lulu Group International and Noor Al Ghafari on behalf of Waleed Al Ghafari, have contributed Dh3.5 million. The campaign aims to reach at least Dh8 million. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132761/dubai-cares-to-fund-education-in-conflict-zones/

Emirati scientist wins Women in Science award

Dubai, UAE: Emirati scientist Hanifa Al Beloushi is this year’s UAE recipient of the L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Middle East Fellowship award, for her research in designing a novel system for enzymatic biodiesel production. Al Beloushi, who is assistant professor at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at Masdar Institute, was among three other women from the Middle East to receive the fellowship at an awards ceremony at Zayed University in Dubai on Tuesday night. All the four winners received an endowment of 20,000 euros each (around Dh80,829) in support of their work. At the event, Minister of State for Tolerance Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who is also president of Zayed University and the patron of the event, congratulated the winners. Shaikha Lubna said: “I commend the work being done by the L’Oréal Foundation and Unesco through the For Women In Science Programme, which raises the level of scientific research in the region and encourages Arab women scientists to pursue their dreams, work for the progress of humanity and make a difference in the world. It is my honour to offer my patronage to a programme that wholeheartedly motivates female scientists from the GCC and recognises their excellent contribution to fields where women are underrepresented.” Al Beloushi said she was honoured to win the recognition, adding she would be involving Masdar students in her work. Speaking about her research, she told Gulf News the project involves developing environment-friendly bio catalysts, rather than chemicals ones, in biodiesel production. She is also developing new compounds to keep the bio enzymes active in the process, to increase the yield, as well as integrating the extraction of oil and its conversion into biodiesel as one continuous process rather than separate steps. Biodiesel is an alternative to regular diesel that is produced from vegetable oil (among other substances). It can and is used as fuel in regular vehicle engines. Much of the raw material for biodiesel in the UAE and elsewhere comes from waste oil in restaurants. Al Beloushi is also working on alternative sources such as microalgae. She said the research has tremendous potential to save resources and the environment, increase production, and save costs. Al Beloushi said despite the UAE’s standing as an oil-rich country, “we have to look for alternatives, plan now for the future and see what’s suitable for the UAE”. She added that she hopes her work will yield results that will convince companies to adopt her process. “I cannot convince them unless I have some statistics and values and unless it is cost-effective,” Al Beloushi said. The other three winners, who are all assistant professors at universities are Dr Maha Al Asmakh from Qatar University; Shimaa Hassan Eisa from the College of Science and General Studies in Riyadh; and Lila Habib from Kuwait University. Nearly 2,250 women in over 110 countries have been recipients of the Fellowship over the past 18 years. With Unesco, the Foundation has honoured almost 100 award laureates for their research achievements — two of whom have gone on to win a Nobel Prize. Thierry Houssin, managing director, L’Oréal Middle East, said the fellowship “continues to build on our firm commitment to women everywhere. As a group, we believe in gender diversity in order to make science of greater relevance to all. We work actively to make women be heard. As women make up one half of humanity, their voices must find expression if scientific research is to continue to solve our most pressing problems”. The 2016 L’Oréal-Unesco for Women in Science Middle East Fellows: Hanifa Taher Al Beloushi, (UAE), assistant professor at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at Masdar Institute: For her research in designing a new novel system for enzymatic biodiesel production. Dr Maha Al Asmakh, (Qatar), assistant professor, Biomedical Science at the Health Sciences College in Qatar University: For her research on microbiota and its effects on brain development and reproductive health. Shimaa Hassan Eisa, (Saudi Arabia), assistant professor of research at the Chemistry Department, College of Science and General Studies, Riyadh: For her research in the development of novel DNA Aptamer-based Biosensing technology for the detection of glycated haemoglobin in human whole blood. Lila Habib, (Kuwait) assistant professor at the Biomedical Engineering Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University: For her research in developing muscular dystrophy patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-based assays (evaluation) for disease modelling. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132759/emirati-scientist-wins-women-in-science-award/

Malala calls for end to conflicts and empowering of women in UAE speech

Sharjah, UAE: Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday called for an end to war and conflict and to empower women and girls through education, to give them a voice and independence. Ms Yousafzai, the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17, used the Investing in the Future conference in Sharjah to ask people to unite to end conflict and make a commitment to ensure equality for women across the world. "On one hand there is poverty, injustice and lack of funding in education that is impacting children and women, and on the other hand there are conflicts and wars making the situation far worse," said Ms Yousafzai at the opening of the two-day conference on building the resilience of women and girls in the Middle East. "The situation is a challenge to us all. We cannot talk about investing in the future of this region without calling for an end to bombings and attacks. We need unity of Muslim people in Muslim countries. Together we must make a promise to this generation to empower them with education; there is a need to bring peace and prosperity to countries." The Pakistani, now 19, survived a near-fatal attack by the Taliban four years ago on a school bus in the Swat Valley when they tried to kill her for advocating education for girls. Ms Yousafzai said she planned to study philosophy, politics and economics at university, but could not stop thinking of girls in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon with similar dreams of peace and an education. Referring to the bombings in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan, she said: "I also cannot stop thinking of my sisters in Pakistan and Afghanistan who become victims of early child marriages and lose the opportunity to study further. I cannot stop thinking of 500,000 children in Mosul under threat of being used as human shields. I cannot stop thinking of nearly half a million children at risk of starvation in Yemen." Urging men to speak up and encourage women to dream, she vowed to continue her struggle for quality education, women’s empowerment and peace. The conference was organised by The Big Heart Foundation and attended by more than 300 gender-equality advocates and officials. In a video message, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the foundation’s chairwoman, asked people to stand by women and invest in their capabilities. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, pointed to the strong representation of women in the UAE Cabinet, federal and local institutions. He called for the country and its women to be at the forefront of the science and technological revolution. Cases of rape during war and attacks on women in refugee camps were also addressed. Rula Ghani, the first lady of -Afghanistan, advocated increased help for women and girls in camps, providing training to rebuild their lives and addressing psychological needs. "We need to come together and rescue our sisters so they do not think we have forgotten them," she said. "Let us give our wandering sisters the skills to help them stand on their feet." Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said every official should speak about the role of women in the country’s history. "In the UAE, men did not build the country alone, women played an important role and were also pillars of society," he said. Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Ms Yousafzai, said investing in women’s education would have an economic impact, while reducing infant mortality and child labour. "We can lead a worldwide movement investing in women and girls through technology to end the digital divide," he said. © The National

via http://www.edarabia.com/132755/malala-calls-for-end-to-conflicts-and-empowering-of-women-in-uae-speech/

Malala calls for end to conflicts and empowering of women in UAE speech

Sharjah, UAE: Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday called for an end to war and conflict and to empower women and girls through education, to give them a voice and independence. Ms Yousafzai, the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17, used the Investing in the Future conference in Sharjah to ask people to unite to end conflict and make a commitment to ensure equality for women across the world. "On one hand there is poverty, injustice and lack of funding in education that is impacting children and women, and on the other hand there are conflicts and wars making the situation far worse," said Ms Yousafzai at the opening of the two-day conference on building the resilience of women and girls in the Middle East. "The situation is a challenge to us all. We cannot talk about investing in the future of this region without calling for an end to bombings and attacks. We need unity of Muslim people in Muslim countries. Together we must make a promise to this generation to empower them with education; there is a need to bring peace and prosperity to countries." The Pakistani, now 19, survived a near-fatal attack by the Taliban four years ago on a school bus in the Swat Valley when they tried to kill her for advocating education for girls. Ms Yousafzai said she planned to study philosophy, politics and economics at university, but could not stop thinking of girls in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon with similar dreams of peace and an education. Referring to the bombings in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan, she said: "I also cannot stop thinking of my sisters in Pakistan and Afghanistan who become victims of early child marriages and lose the opportunity to study further. I cannot stop thinking of 500,000 children in Mosul under threat of being used as human shields. I cannot stop thinking of nearly half a million children at risk of starvation in Yemen." Urging men to speak up and encourage women to dream, she vowed to continue her struggle for quality education, women’s empowerment and peace. The conference was organised by The Big Heart Foundation and attended by more than 300 gender-equality advocates and officials. In a video message, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the foundation’s chairwoman, asked people to stand by women and invest in their capabilities. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, pointed to the strong representation of women in the UAE Cabinet, federal and local institutions. He called for the country and its women to be at the forefront of the science and technological revolution. Cases of rape during war and attacks on women in refugee camps were also addressed. Rula Ghani, the first lady of -Afghanistan, advocated increased help for women and girls in camps, providing training to rebuild their lives and addressing psychological needs. "We need to come together and rescue our sisters so they do not think we have forgotten them," she said. "Let us give our wandering sisters the skills to help them stand on their feet." Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said every official should speak about the role of women in the country’s history. "In the UAE, men did not build the country alone, women played an important role and were also pillars of society," he said. Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Ms Yousafzai, said investing in women’s education would have an economic impact, while reducing infant mortality and child labour. "We can lead a worldwide movement investing in women and girls through technology to end the digital divide," he said. © The National

via http://www.edarabia.com/132755/malala-calls-for-end-to-conflicts-and-empowering-of-women-in-uae-speech/

Manchester Business School launches Executive Education for the Middle East

Dubai, UAE: Manchester Business School (MBS) has launched its first executive education short program in the Middle East. The Creativity & Innovation Essentials course is based on MBS original research in the GCC and designed to show participants from government, large companies and start-ups the strategies and practical tools required to maximise creativity and innovation among individuals, teams and organisations. The program leader is Dr. Mark Batey, creativity specialist at MBS and one of the world’s leading researchers into creativity in the workplace. According to MBS, recent business research suggests that creativity is ranked as the key skill for the 21st century and is closely linked to business performance, growth and organisational success. Creativity is a capacity that can be learned and allows people to develop ideas to solve problems in different ways and capture opportunities. Program leader Dr. Mark Batey, Creativity Specialist at Manchester Business School, says: “Creativity is the source of innovation and every improvement at work starts with an idea and every job requires creativity.Research studies show that creativity can be trained and that creativity training programmes produce improvements on everything from attitudes towards the importance of creativity at work through to improvements in job performance.” MBS’ diagnostic tools allow individuals and teams to identify their creative profile across 12 factors clustered into four dimensions: Idea Generation, Personality, Motivation and Confidence. Then creativity tools and exercises can be used to enhance strengths and develop weaknesses. However, there are some barriers to creativity and innovation. Dr. Batey explains: “The first and most fundamental barrier is that people do not understand that they are creative or their strengths and weaknesses. The second major barrier is that organisations do not know how to identify, nurture, manage and develop creative thinking skills.Creativity is the most important skill for business leaders and organisations need to encourage creativity to drive innovation. Unfortunately, leaders often kill rather than cultivate creativity. A good leader of creativity understands that they need to direct and manage the creative process but not dominate it. This new course for the Middle East will help participants improve their ability to lead and nurture creativity for people and teams across their organisations.” MBS’ new three-day course is an immersive and experiential program based on the unique insights gained from Manchester Business School’s own research into creativity and innovation in the GCC. The Creativity and Innovation Essentials course will be hosted and organised by the MBS Middle East Centre at the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, Dubai, UAE, 1-3November 2016, to coincide with the celebrations of the UAE Innovation Week. Manchester Business School (MBS) is the UK’s first and largest campus-based business and management school and is ranked 38th in the world (Financial Times 2016). MBS has six global centres in the UK, UAE, China, Brazil, Hong Kong and Singapore.The Middle East Centre opened in 2006 and supports over 2,000 working professionals across the region studying for the Manchester Global Part-time MBA.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132719/manchester-business-school-launches-executive-education-for-the-middle-east/

Manchester Business School launches Executive Education for the Middle East

Dubai, UAE: Manchester Business School (MBS) has launched its first executive education short program in the Middle East. The Creativity & Innovation Essentials course is based on MBS original research in the GCC and designed to show participants from government, large companies and start-ups the strategies and practical tools required to maximise creativity and innovation among individuals, teams and organisations. The program leader is Dr. Mark Batey, creativity specialist at MBS and one of the world’s leading researchers into creativity in the workplace. According to MBS, recent business research suggests that creativity is ranked as the key skill for the 21st century and is closely linked to business performance, growth and organisational success. Creativity is a capacity that can be learned and allows people to develop ideas to solve problems in different ways and capture opportunities. Program leader Dr. Mark Batey, Creativity Specialist at Manchester Business School, says: “Creativity is the source of innovation and every improvement at work starts with an idea and every job requires creativity.Research studies show that creativity can be trained and that creativity training programmes produce improvements on everything from attitudes towards the importance of creativity at work through to improvements in job performance.” MBS’ diagnostic tools allow individuals and teams to identify their creative profile across 12 factors clustered into four dimensions: Idea Generation, Personality, Motivation and Confidence. Then creativity tools and exercises can be used to enhance strengths and develop weaknesses. However, there are some barriers to creativity and innovation. Dr. Batey explains: “The first and most fundamental barrier is that people do not understand that they are creative or their strengths and weaknesses. The second major barrier is that organisations do not know how to identify, nurture, manage and develop creative thinking skills.Creativity is the most important skill for business leaders and organisations need to encourage creativity to drive innovation. Unfortunately, leaders often kill rather than cultivate creativity. A good leader of creativity understands that they need to direct and manage the creative process but not dominate it. This new course for the Middle East will help participants improve their ability to lead and nurture creativity for people and teams across their organisations.” MBS’ new three-day course is an immersive and experiential program based on the unique insights gained from Manchester Business School’s own research into creativity and innovation in the GCC. The Creativity and Innovation Essentials course will be hosted and organised by the MBS Middle East Centre at the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, Dubai, UAE, 1-3November 2016, to coincide with the celebrations of the UAE Innovation Week. Manchester Business School (MBS) is the UK’s first and largest campus-based business and management school and is ranked 38th in the world (Financial Times 2016). MBS has six global centres in the UK, UAE, China, Brazil, Hong Kong and Singapore.The Middle East Centre opened in 2006 and supports over 2,000 working professionals across the region studying for the Manchester Global Part-time MBA.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132719/manchester-business-school-launches-executive-education-for-the-middle+east/

University students allowed part-time jobs in UAE

Dubai, UAE: In a landmark development, university students in Dubai can now hold paid part-time jobs in thousands of companies in nine free zone clusters, enabled through a new regulation announced by Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA). The student part-time work regulation and permit applies to some 26,000 students enrolled at around two dozen academic institutions licensed by DCCA, primarily located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and Dubai Knowledge Park. The applicable institutions represent over half of all international branch campuses in the UAE. The new regulation is being implemented with the support of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). It enables 4,500 businesses in the emirate’s nine creative clusters, such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Studio City, to offer part-time employment to university students. In an interview, Ahmad Bin Byat, DCCA director-general, said the regulation “allows students to earn while they learn, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience and an enhanced skill set that will make them stand out in the job market post graduation”. Business, meanwhile, can “gain access to a flexible and educated new stream of talent, without having to sponsor student part-time employees. Over the longer term, the initiative will boost the business-ready skills of fresh graduates, resolving a common issue that recent students don’t have the business acumen that will make them of real value from the very start of their fledgling careers”. It is understood the working students would continue under the student visa sponsorship of their university during their course of study (and part-time work). Bin Byat also stressed “it is critical to ensure that both employers and employees are protected within a strong and fair legal framework”. He pointed out the regulation’s advantages for academic institutions as well, which would give them “a competitive edge in the market, particularly when compared to other academic institutions across the region that do not allow students to work during the time they are studying”. DCCA, he added, is the region’s first government and free-zone entity to enable businesses to hire from a talent pool of such a large number of students who will be provided part-time work permits. Strategic goals The move is also in line with Dubai’s strategic goals. Bin Byat said: “The regulation is part of DCCA’s commitment to implement policies and programmes to enable sustainable growth and the development of the creative industries in full alignment with the Dubai Plan 2021 and the Dubai Strategy for Innovation. “The sustainable growth of these creative industries, and the success of the businesses operating in these sectors, are key for the realisation of the leadership’s vision of Dubai as a global hub for innovation.” Mohammad Abdullah, DIAC managing director, said: “Several knowledge hubs in North America and Europe already allow students to work while they study, and so with this initiative, Dubai further moves towards becoming a global education powerhouse…” Students welcome part-time work permits By Paul Crompton, Staff Reporter New regulation helps students raise funds for tuitions University students welcomed the new regulation, saying it will get them more rights and a fully legal way to pay tuition fees. “My university charges me Dh40,000 per year. This small amount of money [I can make from working legally] will at least help me. It will be like a scholarship. Later on the work experience. When you’re not officially part of the company, they have the upper hand of not giving salaries when they want to. But if we get [part-time work permits] like this, it is going to help us, because it will give us a right.” - Aakhib Shakur, an undergraduate at BITS Pilani, Dubai campus “I am on my father’s visa, but my best friend was on a student visa and it was hard for her to get a job because of the rules that they have in Dubai. When she wanted to make some extra money she couldn’t make anything. I think this will really help students right now, to work from a young age and get that experience.” - Sarah Feliciano, recent graduate from Murdoch University “To work legitimately at a student, you had to get an NoC from the university, and that took quite a bit of time… I have friends who are struggling to get student jobs. Now, you won’t have to worry about the authorities asking for your documents.” - Tanya Mafemera, a graduate from Murdoch University “That is a great idea for many of the students as this will also give them some experience to work in a professional environment and as well as get their CV filled with job experience. This will also allow students to live the Dubai life as how they imagine before actually starting their academic year. I have personally seen and heard comments from students on how they actually imagine their life would be in Dubai as a student and how it turns up.” - Yawar Saeed, undergraduate at Heriot-Watt University, Dubai campus (NO MUGSHOT) Why should you Earn While You Learn? Source: Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA) -Working while you study allows you to gain valuable experience of the workplace at the same time as being enrolled at university, helping you to make informed decisions about the career path you hope to follow after you graduate. -Employers prefer to hire fresh graduates who can hit the ground running. Having the right qualifications in addition to business-friendly soft-skills — something that you can only gain through first-hand experience of the workplace — will significantly enhance your employment prospects. -If you are facing any financial pressures, a common situation for many international students, being able to earn a salary through part-time employment while you are enrolled at an academic institution can make a big difference to your standard of living -The new regulation also ensures that you are protected by a legal framework that regulates the terms of employment for part-time students, providing clear guidelines that both employees and employers need to abide by Where can you work? The new regulation applies to part-time employment with over 4,500 companies located in Dubai’s creative clusters such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Design District, d3. These businesses operate across a wide range of industry sectors, from ICT, Outsourcing, Higher Education and Human Capital Development, through to Media and Entertainment, Design, and Life Sciences, Energy and Environment. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132705/university-students-allowed-part-time-jobs-in-uae/

Happiness in education is a shared responsibility

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Ensuring that happiness pervades the UAE’s education sector is a shared responsibility, and it requires both teachers and students to value their respective roles, a top education official said in the capital on Tuesday. “Teachers must see the importance of the work they do, respect their roles and create a positive environment at school. Only then can they be happy and keep students happy too,” urged Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, director-general at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). He was speaking at the Khalifa Award for Education International Conference, a two-day forum that concluded on Tuesday. The conference saw nearly 2,000 educators discuss advances and challenges in the sector, including this year’s reforms in the public school curriculum, the merger of three prominent Abu Dhabi universities and the unification of the UAE’s two education-related ministries. Educators in attendance on the second day focused on how to improve happiness within the education sector. Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education (MoE), told Gulf News on the sidelines of the event that the ministry is currently working to measure happiness in a scientific manner. “We began work on setting up a data centre last year. This will collect hundreds of indicators on a real-time basis, and many of these will help us evaluate teachers’ and students’ level of happiness,” he explained. “We are positive that these will further reflect the UAE’s high levels of happiness,” he added. In 2015, the UAE was ranked 28th on the United Nations World Happiness Report. This year, the leadership also appointed the country’s first Minister of State for Happiness, Uhoud Khalfan Al Roumi, who has urged institutions and the community to prioritise the pursuit of happiness. According to Dr Al Nuaimi, teachers should also maximise their happiness by sharing their responsibilities and working in teams. Al Hammadi said the MoE is also working to organise more professional development for educators. “As for students, we have reformed the curriculum to challenge and engage them, and are placing much more emphasis on their physical and mental well-being. At the same time, school premises are being refurbished to promote a positive environment for all,” he said. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132704/happiness-in-education-is-a-shared-responsibility/

University students allowed part-time jobs in UAE

Dubai, UAE: In a landmark development, university students in Dubai can now hold paid part-time jobs in thousands of companies in nine free zone clusters, enabled through a new regulation announced by Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA). The student part-time work regulation and permit applies to some 26,000 students enrolled at around two dozen academic institutions licensed by DCCA, primarily located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and Dubai Knowledge Park. The applicable institutions represent over half of all international branch campuses in the UAE. The new regulation is being implemented with the support of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). It enables 4,500 businesses in the emirate’s nine creative clusters, such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Studio City, to offer part-time employment to university students. In an interview, Ahmad Bin Byat, DCCA director-general, said the regulation “allows students to earn while they learn, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience and an enhanced skill set that will make them stand out in the job market post graduation”. Business, meanwhile, can “gain access to a flexible and educated new stream of talent, without having to sponsor student part-time employees. Over the longer term, the initiative will boost the business-ready skills of fresh graduates, resolving a common issue that recent students don’t have the business acumen that will make them of real value from the very start of their fledgling careers”. It is understood the working students would continue under the student visa sponsorship of their university during their course of study (and part-time work). Bin Byat also stressed “it is critical to ensure that both employers and employees are protected within a strong and fair legal framework”. He pointed out the regulation’s advantages for academic institutions as well, which would give them “a competitive edge in the market, particularly when compared to other academic institutions across the region that do not allow students to work during the time they are studying”. DCCA, he added, is the region’s first government and free-zone entity to enable businesses to hire from a talent pool of such a large number of students who will be provided part-time work permits. Strategic goals The move is also in line with Dubai’s strategic goals. Bin Byat said: “The regulation is part of DCCA’s commitment to implement policies and programmes to enable sustainable growth and the development of the creative industries in full alignment with the Dubai Plan 2021 and the Dubai Strategy for Innovation. “The sustainable growth of these creative industries, and the success of the businesses operating in these sectors, are key for the realisation of the leadership’s vision of Dubai as a global hub for innovation.” Mohammad Abdullah, DIAC managing director, said: “Several knowledge hubs in North America and Europe already allow students to work while they study, and so with this initiative, Dubai further moves towards becoming a global education powerhouse…” Students welcome part-time work permits By Paul Crompton, Staff Reporter New regulation helps students raise funds for tuitions University students welcomed the new regulation, saying it will get them more rights and a fully legal way to pay tuition fees. “My university charges me Dh40,000 per year. This small amount of money [I can make from working legally] will at least help me. It will be like a scholarship. Later on the work experience. When you’re not officially part of the company, they have the upper hand of not giving salaries when they want to. But if we get [part-time work permits] like this, it is going to help us, because it will give us a right.” - Aakhib Shakur, an undergraduate at BITS Pilani, Dubai campus “I am on my father’s visa, but my best friend was on a student visa and it was hard for her to get a job because of the rules that they have in Dubai. When she wanted to make some extra money she couldn’t make anything. I think this will really help students right now, to work from a young age and get that experience.” - Sarah Feliciano, recent graduate from Murdoch University “To work legitimately at a student, you had to get an NoC from the university, and that took quite a bit of time… I have friends who are struggling to get student jobs. Now, you won’t have to worry about the authorities asking for your documents.” - Tanya Mafemera, a graduate from Murdoch University “That is a great idea for many of the students as this will also give them some experience to work in a professional environment and as well as get their CV filled with job experience. This will also allow students to live the Dubai life as how they imagine before actually starting their academic year. I have personally seen and heard comments from students on how they actually imagine their life would be in Dubai as a student and how it turns up.” - Yawar Saeed, undergraduate at Heriot-Watt University, Dubai campus (NO MUGSHOT) Why should you Earn While You Learn? Source: Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA) -Working while you study allows you to gain valuable experience of the workplace at the same time as being enrolled at university, helping you to make informed decisions about the career path you hope to follow after you graduate. -Employers prefer to hire fresh graduates who can hit the ground running. Having the right qualifications in addition to business-friendly soft-skills — something that you can only gain through first-hand experience of the workplace — will significantly enhance your employment prospects. -If you are facing any financial pressures, a common situation for many international students, being able to earn a salary through part-time employment while you are enrolled at an academic institution can make a big difference to your standard of living -The new regulation also ensures that you are protected by a legal framework that regulates the terms of employment for part-time students, providing clear guidelines that both employees and employers need to abide by Where can you work? The new regulation applies to part-time employment with over 4,500 companies located in Dubai’s creative clusters such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Design District, d3. These businesses operate across a wide range of industry sectors, from ICT, Outsourcing, Higher Education and Human Capital Development, through to Media and Entertainment, Design, and Life Sciences, Energy and Environment. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/news-posts/university-students-allowed-part-time-jobs-in-uae/

New app for Adec services

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Schoolchildren across the emirate of Abu Dhabi can now access their class timetables, grades and bus schedules through a newly launched smartphone application. The application was launched on Tuesday by the emirate’s education sector regulator, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), and is available to students at both public and private schools. It was introduced at the ongoing Gitex Technology Week in Dubai. Parents can also use the app to view student-related information, while teachers can apply for leave, and view attendance records. There are about 50 different transactions and procedures that can be completed using the new portal. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132700/new-app-for-adec-services/

Happiness in education is a shared responsibility

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Ensuring that happiness pervades the UAE’s education sector is a shared responsibility, and it requires both teachers and students to value their respective roles, a top education official said in the capital on Tuesday. “Teachers must see the importance of the work they do, respect their roles and create a positive environment at school. Only then can they be happy and keep students happy too,” urged Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, director-general at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). He was speaking at the Khalifa Award for Education International Conference, a two-day forum that concluded on Tuesday. The conference saw nearly 2,000 educators discuss advances and challenges in the sector, including this year’s reforms in the public school curriculum, the merger of three prominent Abu Dhabi universities and the unification of the UAE’s two education-related ministries. Educators in attendance on the second day focused on how to improve happiness within the education sector. Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education (MoE), told Gulf News on the sidelines of the event that the ministry is currently working to measure happiness in a scientific manner. “We began work on setting up a data centre last year. This will collect hundreds of indicators on a real-time basis, and many of these will help us evaluate teachers’ and students’ level of happiness,” he explained. “We are positive that these will further reflect the UAE’s high levels of happiness,” he added. In 2015, the UAE was ranked 28th on the United Nations World Happiness Report. This year, the leadership also appointed the country’s first Minister of State for Happiness, Uhoud Khalfan Al Roumi, who has urged institutions and the community to prioritise the pursuit of happiness. According to Dr Al Nuaimi, teachers should also maximise their happiness by sharing their responsibilities and working in teams. Al Hammadi said the MoE is also working to organise more professional development for educators. “As for students, we have reformed the curriculum to challenge and engage them, and are placing much more emphasis on their physical and mental well-being. At the same time, school premises are being refurbished to promote a positive environment for all,” he said. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132704/happiness-in-education-is-a-shared-responsibility/

New app for Adec services

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Schoolchildren across the emirate of Abu Dhabi can now access their class timetables, grades and bus schedules through a newly launched smartphone application. The application was launched on Tuesday by the emirate’s education sector regulator, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), and is available to students at both public and private schools. It was introduced at the ongoing Gitex Technology Week in Dubai. Parents can also use the app to view student-related information, while teachers can apply for leave, and view attendance records. There are about 50 different transactions and procedures that can be completed using the new portal. © Gulf News

via http://www.edarabia.com/132700/new-app-for-adec-services/

Vernus Early Learning Centre invites you to a consultation with Dr. Naziyat Asabulaeva tomorrow, October 19, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Three Dubai Nurseries achieve stringent quality award

Dubai, UAE: Three NDNA member nurseries in Dubai have been awarded National Day Nurseries Association’s e-Quality Counts. This two year programme is the only quality improvement scheme designed specifically for nurseries, promoting the highest levels of childcare and early education. It enables nurseries to review quality and practice against a set of early years best practice standards. NDNA’s Chief Executive, Purnima Tanuku OBE, said: “To be awarded with e-Quality Counts, nurseries must show they are giving the highest levels of care and education and are leading the way in early years excellence. “This is what parents are looking for and is a very effective way to stand out from your competitors. “Our scheme is becoming increasingly attractive to nurseries outside the UK who want to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework which nurseries in England are inspected against.” Blossom Downtown Nursery in Dubai was the first international member to achieve the award, taking just 14 months to complete the 12 challenging compulsory modules. Tamara Stubbs, Centre Director is convinced that gaining the award helped to improve standards of care and education throughout the group’s six settings. She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed completing the NDNA e-Quality Counts accreditation. I was able to reflect on current practice alongside my team and evaluate the areas we are strong in and the areas that needed some improvement. “I am proud to say we were part of creating change, improving practice and the experiences of our children.” The Blossom Nursery employs more than 200 staff members and also takes part in NDNA’s Maths Champions programme. Willow Children’s Nursery in the city completed its award in June 2016 alongside a major expansion of the business. Jan Webber who is the Founder and Partner of Willow Children's Nurseries is convinced that her team gained knowledge and were brought closer together as a result of participating in the scheme. She said: “Owning a nursery in Dubai has its challenges. Regulations and requirements differ somewhat from the UK and in the last five years the demand for nurseries has quadrupled! “We embraced the challenge and, working as a team, we began to see areas that definitely needed development or improving. The e-Quality Counts scheme helped us to see where we needed to take our setting to become a better place as a whole. “We reflected on our practice, reviewed our policies and scrutinised our operational systems. Looking at the expectations we were able to devise a plan of action to implement new procedures that we did not have in place previously. “We were delighted to finally get our accreditation and we won't stop here. We will continue to enhance our services and quality for the future.”

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre is Dubai’s third nursery to earn the e-Quality Counts award. The centre’s Head of Nursery and Preschool, Kelli Allen, was thrilled to achieve the highest level of accreditation. She said: “The Aga Khan Early Learning Centre (AKELC) is proud to have achieved the UK National Day Nursery Association Level 3 accreditation. Overall, the extensive NDNA review process was comprehensive and extremely professional. “This award recognises the highest level of achievement and serves to validate the AKELC status as an exemplary nursery and preschool, based on internationally recognised criteria of quality indicators and standards of excellence in early childhood care and educational practice. “It was also an important opportunity for us to validate and document policies that have strengthened our nursery and preschool programmes. The accreditation was achieved through a team effort of the AKELC staff, students, parents, and volunteers." Any nursery achieving e-Quality Counts retains the quality mark for three years before needing to be re-inspected. NDNA International currently has 127 members in 22 countries, from Spain to Singapore, with 23 in the United Arab Emirates. An event to showcase NDNA’s work around the globe is taking place in Dubai in spring 2017. This will be followed by an organised visit of international practitioners and managers to outstanding English nurseries.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132656/three-dubai-nurseries-achieve-stringent-quality-award/

Three Dubai Nurseries achieve stringent quality award

Dubai, UAE: Three NDNA member nurseries in Dubai have been awarded National Day Nurseries Association’s e-Quality Counts. This two year programme is the only quality improvement scheme designed specifically for nurseries, promoting the highest levels of childcare and early education. It enables nurseries to review quality and practice against a set of early years best practice standards. NDNA’s Chief Executive, Purnima Tanuku OBE, said: “To be awarded with e-Quality Counts, nurseries must show they are giving the highest levels of care and education and are leading the way in early years excellence. “This is what parents are looking for and is a very effective way to stand out from your competitors. “Our scheme is becoming increasingly attractive to nurseries outside the UK who want to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework which nurseries in England are inspected against.” Blossom Downtown Nursery in Dubai was the first international member to achieve the award, taking just 14 months to complete the 12 challenging compulsory modules. Tamara Stubbs, Centre Director is convinced that gaining the award helped to improve standards of care and education throughout the group’s six settings. She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed completing the NDNA e-Quality Counts accreditation. I was able to reflect on current practice alongside my team and evaluate the areas we are strong in and the areas that needed some improvement. “I am proud to say we were part of creating change, improving practice and the experiences of our children.” The Blossom Nursery employs more than 200 staff members and also takes part in NDNA’s Maths Champions programme. Willow Children’s Nursery in the city completed its award in June 2016 alongside a major expansion of the business. Jan Webber who is the Founder and Partner of Willow Children's Nurseries is convinced that her team gained knowledge and were brought closer together as a result of participating in the scheme. She said: “Owning a nursery in Dubai has its challenges. Regulations and requirements differ somewhat from the UK and in the last five years the demand for nurseries has quadrupled! “We embraced the challenge and, working as a team, we began to see areas that definitely needed development or improving. The e-Quality Counts scheme helped us to see where we needed to take our setting to become a better place as a whole. “We reflected on our practice, reviewed our policies and scrutinised our operational systems. Looking at the expectations we were able to devise a plan of action to implement new procedures that we did not have in place previously. “We were delighted to finally get our accreditation and we won't stop here. We will continue to enhance our services and quality for the future.”

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre is Dubai’s third nursery to earn the e-Quality Counts award. The centre’s Head of Nursery and Preschool, Kelli Allen, was thrilled to achieve the highest level of accreditation. She said: “The Aga Khan Early Learning Centre (AKELC) is proud to have achieved the UK National Day Nursery Association Level 3 accreditation. Overall, the extensive NDNA review process was comprehensive and extremely professional. “This award recognises the highest level of achievement and serves to validate the AKELC status as an exemplary nursery and preschool, based on internationally recognised criteria of quality indicators and standards of excellence in early childhood care and educational practice. “It was also an important opportunity for us to validate and document policies that have strengthened our nursery and preschool programmes. The accreditation was achieved through a team effort of the AKELC staff, students, parents, and volunteers." Any nursery achieving e-Quality Counts retains the quality mark for three years before needing to be re-inspected. NDNA International currently has 127 members in 22 countries, from Spain to Singapore, with 23 in the United Arab Emirates. An event to showcase NDNA’s work around the globe is taking place in Dubai in spring 2017. This will be followed by an organised visit of international practitioners and managers to outstanding English nurseries.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132656/three-dubai-nurseries-achieve-stringent-quality-award/

Japan’s Leading Universities Target UAE’s Brightest Students

Dubai, UAE: Representatives from four of Japan’s leading universities, including Ritsumeikan University, Tokai University, Waseda University and Ochanomizu University, are set to entice the UAE’s brightest students to enrol in their institutions when exhibiting at the Japan Pavilion at this year’s NAJAH Abu Dhabi higher education event to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 25-27 October, 2016. The Japanese higher-education promotional initiative is spearheaded by JICE (Japan International Cooperation Center), which encourages Emirati students to study in Japan. JICE offers opportunities for UAE students and their families to directly engage with representatives from internationally acclaimed institutions with a myriad of technological, medical, commercial and humanity courses, coupled with the opportunities of experiencing Japan’s unique culture and lifestyle. It will be the 4th time for JICE to participate at NAJAH – the UAE’s leading higher education event. This year Ochanomizu University, Japan’s oldest and most acclaimed women’s university, will be participating at NAJAH for the first time, aiming to outreach to the UAE’s female student community. Ochanomizu University traces its roots back to 1875 when it was first founded as the Tokyo Women’s Normal School (later to become Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School) as an institution specializing in the development of female faculties. The origin of the name Ochanomizu University comes from the neighbourhood where the institution is located in Tokyo, which was once called Ochanomizu, but now known as Yushima in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward. Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School was known as an educational institution holding the highest standard in women’s education at the time, and women from all over Japan who were interested in scholarly pursuits held the institution in very high regard. Graduates from the School were sent all over Japan as teachers to educate the next generation of women. This regard and tradition continues today in the institution’s modern form as Ochanomizu University. Today it is only one of the total of two women’s national universities in Japan, making the institution one of the most sort after universities for female students. Says Mr. Tokuya Kanamori, Representative, JICE Abu Dhabi Office: “We are excited to introduce these leading Japanese universities to students in the UAE. Their academic standard is high and well recognised, and they are welcoming international students from around the world. Ritsumeikan University, Tokai University and Waseda University have a history of receiving a number of UAE students and offer a variety of courses in both English and Japanese. For female students, and their parents, who wish to further their academic pursuits amongst an all-female student body, Ochanomizu University is an exceptional choice. In addition to the provision of excellence in education, international students from the UAE will also gain a unique educational and social experience by living within the Japanese culture and communities. These experiences, we believe, provide them with a unique professional and social edge compared to their peers.” In addition to the four universities slated to attend the event, visiting students and their families will also be able to inquire and receive information about other Japanese universities both from the JICE representative in attendance at NAJAH, and also directly from members of JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization). International students at Japan’s educational institutions have been increasing year on year, with the latest statistics showing a total of 208,379 students from around the world choosing to study in Japan in 2015; an increase of 13.2% compared to the number of international students in 2014. Among these, students heralding from the Middle East numbered 1,632 in 2015 with an increase of 12.6%.

via http://www.edarabia.com/132654/japan-leading-universities-target-uae-brightest-students/